Concession on train fares: Senior citizens and sports persons waiting for the concession in train fares have once again been disappointed. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has said in Parliament that the Railways is not going to resume the concession given to senior citizens and sports persons at present.
In the budget session of Parliament, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and DK MP Kanimozhi had asked the government when will senior citizens and sports persons again get concession in railway fares.
Shiv Sena and DMK MPs asked questions
Both the MPs had asked the Railway Minister whether the concession on railway tickets for senior citizens and sports persons is still applicable as it was applicable before March 2020? If yes, what is the details of when it is applicable? If not, is the government planning to resume the concession?
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Apart from this, he also asked that if the government is planning to restart the concession, then by when is the final decision likely to be taken in this regard. And if the government does not have such a plan, then what are the reasons for it?
What did the Railway Minister say?
Responding to this, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said, “Indian Railways strives to provide affordable services to all sections of the society and has provided a subsidy of Rs 56,993 crore on passenger tickets in 2022-23. Railways gives an average concession of 46% to every person traveling. Apart from this, concessions are being given to many categories beyond this subsidy amount. Like- 4 categories of disabled persons (Divyangjans), 11 categories of patients and 8 categories of students.
It is clear from this answer of the Railway Minister that the government is not in the mood to give discounts on train tickets to senior citizens and sports persons.
